Destination Skagway, AK: The Duff’s Trail Challange

The mountains of Skagway

Did you ever feel like you wanted to get out there and experience the great blue yonder? Ever feel like you want to tap into the raw wilderness of the American tundra and test your physical limit? If these are things you have pondered in your head, you might want to check out the hubbub behind Duff’s Trail Challenge in Skagway, Alaska, where the object of your summer is to crush twelve trails in the surrounding Alaskan Wilderness, a total of 85 miles.

Based in Skagway, AK a truly small town in the panhandle of Alaska, the Duff Trail Challenge has gained momentum in the past few years , and has brought people from surrounding areas together in the spirit of love of outdoors. The challenge was originally put together by Duff’s Backcountry Outfitters‘ owner, Kristen Wagner. Since its introduction in 2010, word has spread, and the challenge has grown. “I’ve definitely heard a lot more chatter about the Trail Challenge,” Kristen Wagner, owner of Duff’s said. “I think it inspired people. It inspired me.”

Kristen Wagner, owner of Duff’s Outfitter; Skagway, AK

Among the people the Duff’s Trail Challenge has inspired, is a new breed of “extreme” athletes who have been pushing the envelope for the past three years and ramping up trial times. In 2011, a man dubbed Skagways own “man of steel” Ben Seale completed the challenge, and all twelve trails in a mere 2.5 days! Sponsored by Duff’s, Ben has become something of a local lore. Tackling 85 miles and thousands of feet of elevation in just 2.5 days is simply put, an amazing feat! This years event, has attracted more professionals like Ben who strive to improve upon their times and competitors times to add to the sense of competition to the challenge.

Ben Seale along the trail

Trails Checklist:

AB Mountain                 Sumglers Cove
Chilkoot Trail                Sturgill’s Landing
Denver Glacier              Upper Dewey Lake
Devil’s Punchbowl       Upper Reid Falls
Icy Lake
Laughton Glacier
Lost Lake
Lower Dewey Lake

These trails are gorgeous and range in difficulty determined mostly by elevation change. During the course of the roughly 85 miles on trail, participants change thousands of feet of elevation. Proper hydration and food intake is a must to keep your body ready for the endurance aspect of the challenge. Alaska’s rugged terrain offers tremendous views ranging from glaciers, cirques, wildlife, and creeks to distant thunderstorms, misty mountains and flowing green tundras. One cannot express how beautiful Alaska is this time of year.

Skagway Train Arriving

To add to the excitement of the challenge, three of the trails on the itinerary are inaccessible except by train (Chilkoot Trail, Denver Glacier, Laughton Glacier), making it imperative that trail times are calculated to a T when planning your course. In order to make it in the ranks, you essentially have to time it right getting off of one trail, and onto a train!  The trails are spread through Canada and Alaska and range anywhere from sea level to high alpine environment. This challenge is not for the faint of heart; but one thing which sets it apart is the friendly attitude surrounding the Challenge. “It’s not about placement. It’s about participation,” said a local participant.

This years challenge, more people than ever before have come to watch, take part in, and cover the Duff’s Trail Challenge. Among the competitors this year was OutdoorEnds’ owner Seth Wright, who is gunning to complete the challenge in a 48 hour time frame. Seth is an avid outdoorsman from Utah who moved to Skagway to follow his great love for the outdoors. Besides commissioning OutdoorEnd, Seth’s passion is challenging himself in the outdoors setting with anything and everything that one can do. We commend him on his effort this year, and on behalf of everyone in Skagway, we hope to see you at next years Duff’s Trail challenge!